Well casing



C. L. DAILEY WELL CASING Sept. 12, 1939.

Filed Dec. 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QAusEY L. 04

Patented Sept. 12, 1939 4 j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to well casings and more particularly to an improved casing head and drop pipe supporting means.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved means for supporting a drop pipe in a casing head so as to prevent surface water or other material from entering the casing.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved drop pipe supporting means in combination with a casing head which is so constructed that the supporting means for the drop pipe may be adjusted relative to the casing head in order to accommodate the drop pipe where the well is not straight as is usually the case.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which can be mounted on the present well casing and which will eliminate the use of the conventional stuifing box and will seal the drop pipe relative to the well casing so 0 as to exclude both surface water and other externalpollution of the well.

' The device'herein disclosed has been designed particularly for use in wells for water'but may also be used for other types of wells where an 5 inner: pipe isinserted within the well casing and supported from the casing head.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and ar- 0 rangement of parts as will be more specifically 5 which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a casing head and drop pipe supporting means constructed '2 according to this invention mounted on a Well casing and a drop pipe,

Figure 2 is a detail top plan of the device,

Figure 3' isa longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 41s a sectional-view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, V

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the drop pipe eccentric to the well casing,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the 1-4 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings the numeral l0 designates a well casing and the numeral ll desigline hates generally a drop'pipe which is inserted in the well casing l0 and has a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the casing 10.

In the drilling of the wells in the majority of cases, the wells are not drilled in a true vertical line, this being due to the conditions of the earth's strata which cause the drill rod tobe shifted out of plumb. When it is desired to insert a drop pipe in the Wellcasing I0 and have the drop pipe ll vertical, it is necessary to provide a means i which may be shifted relative to the casing ll] in order to properly support the pipe II in its eccentric position relative to the casing H1.

The casing ID at its upper end is provided with a casing head 12 having a cylindrical body l3 snugly engaging about the pipe l0. The body l3 at its upper portion is provided with an enlarged portion I4 having an annular seal receivlng recess l5 therein. The body l2 at its upper portion is provided with diametrically opposed ears IS, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described. Ihe casing I0 is sealed relative to the head l2 by means of a sealing member I1 which may take theform of lead orlike sealing means which may be poured into the seat 15 and then otherwise caulked or tightened in the seat l5 so that the head I2 will be properly sealed in the upper end of the casing ID. A cover plate I8 is adapted to engagethe upper end of the head It and is provided at substantially the center thereof with an opening l9 therethrough which is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the casing 10. The cover I8 is provided with diametrically opposedears adapted to overlie the ears l6 and bolts' Zl engage through the ears 20 and I6 so as to hold the cover or plate I8 in position on the upper end of the head 12.

In order to provide a means whereby the drop pipe H may be "supported relative to the casing I0, I have provided a pair of clamping members 22 and 23 which [are semi-cylindrical in configuration and are adapted to engage about the pipe I I adjacent the head l2. The'clamping members 22 and 23' are provided adjacent the upper end portions thereofwith laterally projecting ears 24 and 25 respectively which are bolted together as by bolts 26. The inner end portions of the clamping members 22 and 23 are also provided with ears 2! and 28 respectively and bolts 29 hold the ears 2! and 28 in clamping position.

The inner end portions of the clamping members 22 and 23 are provided with base flanges 3D and 3| respectively and the base flange 30 is provided with a laterally projecting lug or ear 32. The flange 3| is provided with a laterally projecting lug or ear 33 and when the correct position of the drop pipe II has been determined the cover I8 is drilled and the holes tapped and bolts or screws 34 and 35 are then extended through the ears 32 and 33 and threaded into the cover I 8. When the bolts 34 and 35 are tightened a gasket 36 is interposed between the inner ends of the clamping members 22 and 23 and the cover plate I8 so that tightening of the bolts 34 and 35 will seal the inner end of the drop pipe supporting member on the cover I8.

In Figures 5, 6 and '7 the drop pipe II has been shown as being eccentric to the casing I0. At the time the correct position of the pipe II has been determined, the cover I8 is drilled and the holes therein threaded thereafter pipe I] .will be tightly held in its correct position relative to'the casing ID. The gasket 36 will prevent external wateror material from entering the interior of the casing I so that the water and other liquid withdrawn from the well will not be polluted.

In the use of this device, the casing head I2 is initially positioned at the upper end of the casing ID, the bore of the head I2 being such as to snugly receive the casing ID. The sealing means I! is then inserted in the seat I of the head I2. The cover I8 may then be applied to the head I2 and the drop pipe II then inserted through the opening IS in the cover I8. Where the casing I0 is plumb the drop pipe II may take a position coaxial with the axis of the casing ID as shown in Figure 3. However, where the casing II! is out of plumb and this is the case with the majority of wells, the drop pipe II may take the position shown in Figure 5 where the pipe I I is eccentric to the casing I0. The drop pipe supporting member comprising the two clamping members 22 and 23 are then engaged about the pipe II above the head I2 and a sealing member 31 may be placed in a recess 38 provided in the drop pipe supporting member comprising the two clamping members 22 and 23. The sealing member 31 may be in the form of lead or any other suitable sealing means. The gasket 36 is inserted between the drop pipe supporting member and the cover I8 and where the casing I0 is out of'plumb as indicated in Figure 5 the drop pipe II will be positioned eccentric to the casing I0.

When the correct position of the drop pipe. II has been determined, the cover I8 is then drilled and the bolts 34 and 35 are then inserted in the threaded holes and the supporting member 22-23 is tightened onto the cover I 8. This drop pipe supporting means has been placed in practical use and has been found to be more satisfactory than conventional gland devices, this being due to the fact that the conventional gland devices do not permit the drop pipe to be positioned eccentric to the Well casing and even if such glands do permit some adjustment of the drop pipe, the adjustment is not of a permanent character as is the structure herein disclosed.

What I claim is:

l. A combined well casing head forming and drop pipe clamping and supporting structure comprising a tubular head member for snugly encompassing the casing having an enlarged upper portion provided with an annular seal receiving recess disposed coaxially with the casing, a cover plate mounted on such member and provided substantially at the center thereof with an opening of a diameter less than the diameter of the casing, means for securing said head and plate together, said opening being for the passage of the drop pipe into the casing, a drop pipe clampf ing' and supporting device arranged over and horizontally adjustable, with the pipe clamped thereto relative to said cover plate selectively in opposite directions, and means carried by said device and engaging in said plate for fixedly securing saiddevice selectively in non-adjusted and adjusted positions with the head member and with the drop pipe clamped to said device.

2. A combined well casing head forming and drop pipe clamping and supporting structure comprising a tubular head member for snugly enoompassing the casing having an enlarged upper portion provided with an annular seal receiving recess disposed coaxially with the casing, a cover plate mounted onsuch member and provided substantially at the center thereof with an opening of a diameter less than the diameter of the easing, means for securing said head and plate together, said opening being for the passage of the drop pipe into the casing, a drop pipe clamping and supporting device; arranged over and horizontally adjustable, with the pipe clamped thereto relative to said cover plate selectively in opposite directions, and means carried by said device and engaging in said plate for fixedly securing said device selectively in non-adjusted and adjusted positions with the head member and with the drop pipe clamped to said device, said device being'formed with an annular seal receiving recess disposed coaxially with the drop pipe.

3. A combined well casing head forming and drop pipe clamping and supporting structure comprising a tubular head member for snugly encompassing the casing and having its upper end provided with an annular seal receiving recess disposed coaxially with the casing, a cover plate mounted on the upper end of said member and provided substantially at the center thereof with an opening of less diameter than the casing for the passage of the drop pipe into the casing, spaced means coacting with spaced parts of said member and plate for fixedly securing them together, an upstanding drop pipe clamping and supporting device arrangedover and horizontally adjustable relative to-said plate with the pipe clamped thereto, said device being formed at its upper end with an annular seal receiving recess arranged coaxially with the drop pipe, and spaced means coacting with external spaced parts at the lower end of said device and engaging in said plate for selectively securing said device in adjusted and non-adjusted positions with said head member and with the drop pipe clamped to said device.

3 CLAUSEY L. DAILEY. 

